Plant! Scheme

celebrating the birth or adoption of every child in Wales by planting trees to help create new woodlands for future generations.

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Here’s Caleb with his Plant! certificate

Plant! is a scheme set up by the Welsh Government in 2008. For each and every child born or adopted in Wales, a tree is planted in celebration, creating new woodlands for future generations across Wales. Since 2014, the Plant! scheme committed to planting an additional tree in Uganda for every tree planted here in Wales.

As part of our 10 Million Trees project, fruit trees will be planted in the gardens of family homes in the Mbale region of Uganda. These trees will help local communities by providing them with sustainable supplies of food and shelter, as well as a source of income. They will also protect local people from the effects of soil erosion caused by heavy deforestation in the area, which can lead to deadly landslips.

Trees are critical to the environment, both locally and globally. Tropical forests absorb nearly a fifth of all man-made CO2 emissions, making them crucial in stabilising the world’s climate. Planting trees in Wales and Uganda is vital in helping to tackle climate change. With these trees the children of Wales can feel a personal connection with their environment.

The Plant! scheme is also supported by Natural Resources Wales and Woodland Trust/Coed Cadw.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Wales

Over 300, 000 trees have been planted in Welsh woodlands

Over 140 hectares of new woodland created across 15 woods

in 2018 the Plant! scheme will be 10 years old! To mark the occasion, there will be a number of events across the woodlands

Uganda

1,600 families in 30 villages have been supported by this scheme

5 Fairtrade coffee plantations supported

Bond between Wales and Uganda strengthened

FAQ’s about the Plant! Scheme

Why are you planting trees in Uganda?

Wales and Mbale are working together through the Welsh Government’s Wales for Africa Programme. The focus of the work is on improving resilience to climate change and as part of that the community groups in Mbale requested our help to plant trees on land which has been deforested and is very vulnerable to erosion and landslides. Trees help to stabilise the soil and reduce erosion. The trees also have many other benefits including shade for coffee growing, fodder for animals, fruit for families, timber for building and fuel for the future. Trees planted in tropical countries are also a valuable way to take some of the excess carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. The Welsh Government is also working to reduce carbon emissions in Wales and has ambitious targets for this. The Mbale tree planting project is a demonstration of Wales acting positively beyond its borders and working in partnership on global issues.

Who is paying for trees in Uganda and why?

The Welsh Government’s Wales for Africa Programme is covering the direct costs of the Ugandan trees as part of its wider efforts to promote greater resilience to climate change in the Mbale Region. By making a direct connection between people and communities in Wales and by tree planting both in Wales and in Uganda, Wales for Africa is building on the strong links that have been developed between communities over many years. Through the Wales for Africa Programme Wales looks beyond our own two million hectares and engages in global issues of development and environment.

How did you get my address?

Neither Size of Wales nor the Welsh Government has access to your name or address through Plant! The certificate you received was sent out on behalf of the Welsh Government by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) who maintain records of the births and adoptions across the UK. This is to respect your privacy and is in strict compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

Were trees cut down to send the information about the scheme?

The paper we use is sustainably sourced and Forest Stewardship Council certified.

Can we visit our tree?

You are very welcome to visit the site where your tree is planted in Wales. Your letter will tell you where your tree is planted. Individual trees are not labelled because we want to create beautiful, natural woodlands but you can choose your own tree when you visit and try to remember which one it is as it grows. Please don’t mark the trees in any way though and do remember not every tree in a wood will make it to full maturity. We plant plenty of trees at the site to make sure enough survive but we can’t guarantee the survival of each individual tree. Go to the Plant! Website to find out more.

We don’t encourage people to go out to Uganda to visit their tree as this would increase carbon emissions and we are trying to reduce levels in the atmosphere. However, if you intend to visit Uganda please contact us first so we can introduce you to our partners.

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Projects

Address

Temple of Peace
King Edward VII Avenue
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3AP

About Size of Wales

Size of Wales is a unique Welsh charity with a mission to sustain an area of tropical forest the size of Wales as part of our national response to climate change.

Size of Wales is a charity registered in England and Wales numbered 1143178